A large number of persons across age-groups including some differently abled citizens participated in the run organised by the Uttarakhand police to raise awareness on substance abuse here on Sunday. The run was flagged off by the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from the police lines in the provisional State Capital.
African runners bagged the top positions in the 21 kilometre and 10 kilometre runs on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering before the start of the run, the Chief Minister appealed to the youth to stay away from any kind of drugs and also to play an active role in campaign against drugs. He said that substance abuse not only makes the youth physically and mentally weak but is also akin to a conspiracy to make the nation weak.
He said that youth should themselves stay away from intoxication and make others also aware about the menace of drug abuse.
The Chief Minister further said that substance abuse is not only a personal problem but has social, economic and even national consequences. He advised that youth should maintain the commitments, beliefs and honour of their families and society and stay away from drugs.
Before flagging off the run from the police lines, the Chief Minister also administered an oath to the participants against substance abuse.
He also appreciated the Uttarakhand police for organising the run for raising awareness against substance abuse. The Dehradun mayor, Sunil Uniyal Gama, director general of police, Anil Kumar Raturi, additional director general of police, Ashok Kumar, other senior officials and a large number of participants were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, in the 21 kilometre half marathon, Ethiopian runners Aber Ketem and Jinashwark Ambi won the first position in the men’s and women’s category respectively. They were awarded cash prize of Rs one lakh each.
In the 10 kilometre run Samir Naser from Ethiopia won the men’s category while Shobhna Rana from Mussoorie won the women’s category. Both received cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.